Nwankwo impresses for number of reasons
Every summer, it’s tradition for University of Houston football newcomers to request a jersey number.
Some numbers are already taken, No. 0 wasn’t even an option until this year, and a few have been retired, never to be worn again.
Months before arriving on campus, Chidozie Nwankwo had picked out his number.
No. 10.
Yes, that No. 10.
The same number worn just two years ago by Ed Oliver, a three-time All-American, Outland Trophy winner and No. 9
overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
“You sure?” coach Dana Holgorsen asked the defensive lineman from Foster shortly after his commitment.
“I can handle it,” Nwankwo said.
Any talk of anointing Nwankwo as the next Oliver is premature. Yet Nwankwo does not shy away from the expectations that come with picking No. 10 or the inevitable comparisons.
Like Oliver, Nwankwo is in line to be a starter as a true freshman. Like Oliver, a consensus top-five recruit, Nwankwo had major college interest and opted to play at home. Like Oliver, Nwankwo is a shorter interior lineman described as “powerful,” “explosive” and “dynamic.”
And like Oliver, Nwankwo is not afraid to say what’s on his mind.
“I’m looking forward to breaking all (of Oliver’s) records,” Nwankwo said on national signing day last December. UH has yet to make him available for comment because it does not allow newcomers to do interviews until they play in a game.
In his first college camp, Nwankwo impressed the coaching staff so much that he’s listed as co-starter at nose guard with Olivier Charles-Pierre heading into Saturday’s season opener against North Texas at TDECU Stadium.
“He’s strong, and he’s hungry,” UH defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen said. “He’s wearing No. 10. He knows what that carries. That’s what he wanted. He knows he has big shoes to fill right there.
“I think he’s going to have a fabulous career here.”
Defensive line coach Brian Early said Nwankwo’s dedication to his workout regimen and nutrition were noticeable when he arrived on campus.
“He showed up in great shape,”
“He knows he has big shoes to fill right there. I think he’s going to have a fabulous career here.”
UH defensive cocordinator Joe Cauthen, on Chidozie Nwankwo following Ed Oliver
Early said. “I don’t think I’ve ever coached a true freshman in 22 years that showed up in the physical condition he did.”
Nwankwo stood out one day during summer workouts when UH players were running “gassers” — sprints up and down the field that help build stamina.
“He’s outrunning guys that have been in the program three or four years, and he’s not even breathing heavy,” Early said. “He showed up in tremendous condition.”
Nwankwo solidified his jump on the depth chart during a scrimmage in preseason camp.
“Where he kind of separated himself from the pack, we were having a scrimmage and working some tight red-zone and goal-line stuff, and he completely took the scrimmage over,” Early said. “We’ve been pleased with his progress.”
Early said Nwankwo has yet to be overwhelmed with how much is placed on his plate. The only setback for Nwankwo: He has missed the past two weeks in quarantine due to COVID-19 contact tracing but is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday.
“I’ve had true freshmen that played for me before and had plenty that had to redshirt,” Early said. “You can really never predict that. It’s case by case, kid by kid. I throw everything at them that I throw at the vets and see what they can handle. It just never got too big or too much for (Nwankwo).”
One aspect of Nwankwo’s background that plays a big role is his success as a high school wrestler. Nwankwo finished his career as a two-time state champion, including a 22-0 record as a senior in the 285-pound class.
At 5-11 and 293 pounds, Nwankwo has what Cauthen calls “builtin leverage” and strong hands, both traits that come with being a wrestler.
“He has a good punch,” Cauthen said. “He’s real explosive. He’s a dynamic player.”
In high school, Nwankwo was a four-time District 10-5A first-team selection and named Defensive Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior. He mostly lined up directly across from the center and will move to nose and some threetechnique at UH. The plan is for Nwankwo to come in on certain downs in a rotation with CharlesPierre, a 370-pound run stopper who will be counted on to “destroy double teams,” Early said.